Device for determining the progress of work



Sept. 30, 1930.

G. RElNlcKE DEVICE FOR DETERIINING' THE PROGRESS OP WORK Filed nay 1v,192s o1 111s 1 v ssamm Patented Sep't. 30, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT ooFFlcEj GEORG ammonia, or' HAGEN, GERMANY- DVICE FOR DETERMINING THEPROGRESS F WORK applicati@ mea May 17, 1929, serial No. 363,870, and inGermany July 16, 192s.y

Thepresent invention relates to a device for determining the progress ofwork, and

has for its object to provide means for determining the progress made ina positive vand simple manner.

Modern scientific control of technical operations infactories employs anumberr'of devices and forms forthe lpurpose of regulating workanddetermining the time a given job will be finished, but it has been foundimpossible So far to arrange for the distribution of work and thedetermination of the time when a j ob will be finished in a positive andpractical manner.

Thepresent invention achieves this aim by causing the time band to .moveaccording to the clock each band representing a means of work, accordingto the progress made in the work, the drive taking place by hand or anyother means of transmission.

The main feature of the invention is a chart provided with a number ofparallel endless bands or chains carrying superimposed and hinged pairsof small plates of different color and same size. One of the chainsserves for dividing time while the others represent one means of work,or a group, each. The division of time follows the clock time and isindicated by a forward movement to the extent of a unit of measurementadapted to the plant concerned. Each of the other chains is moveddirectly according to the progress of work made on the means of workconcerned which it represents either by hand or electrically from themeans of work in such a way that during the progress of the work themovement takes place `in the same direction as that of the meansrepresenting time, for example from right to left. On the border of thechart where the small plates disappear according to the rate of speed atwhich the work is being finished, the plates are turned overautomatically to occupy a position of rest and appear 0n the back of thechart in the latter position, ready to indicate other operations.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated Lin the accompanyingdrawing, in

which Figure 1 is a view of the chart and time figures for daily ormonthly periods, as

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and `5 are views of the Vchain mechanism.

The chartis shaped like a box (Fig. l), the' front and rear walls ofwhich are alike and serve the same purpose, and provided in row-likearrangement with a number of slots 8 which can be illuminated by meansof suitable electric devices kept in the box. Each horizontal slot linerepresents a means of work, the designation of which is attached to theleftfhand border of the chart at 5. Over each row ofslots moves a chain10 (Figs, l, 2) guidedoverrotatable shafts l1 andlt (Figs. l, 2, 3) atthe edgesofthe chart so that the ychain can be moved horizontally to theright and left. From the chain depends a continuous row of smalltransparent plates 6, 7 (Figs'l, 3, 5) which are varranged vin pairs sothat one covers the other, thecolor of the upper plate being red andthat of the l0 lower one, green. They are swingingly arranged on thechain and can be turned over into a position of rest so as to cooperatein the horizontal motion of the chain without being visible to anonlooker. When turnedV down, they cover the illuminated slots andconstitute a line formation.

` One of these lines on the chart is the time dividing line and' differsfrom the other lines representing means of work only in so far as thesmallplates are not suspended in pairs so that one covers the other, butdepend singly and are non-transparent and providedwith indicated by 13inFig. l, i SD The time required for any operation by any means of workcan be indicated` by dropping a certain number `of smallplates,the timevalue of the latter'being xed by the division accepted for Athe timeline. The kind of work carried on isl indicated by placing a number`plate over the last small plate on the right. The various colors adoptedfor the small plates assist in finding out whether an operation ismerely in course of preparation or whether the job has already passed tothe y means of work. Successive operations carried on by means of thesame means of work iiil' represented one after another on the l Thechains representing the various means of Work are independent from oneanother and are moved from right to left according to the speed at Whichthe operation is carried out so that the amount of Working timeindicated is moved also While the vdisappearance of the left-hand smallplates shows the reduction of operations.

In the same manner and according to the speed of the clock the timedividing chain is moved either by clockwork or intermittently y by handso that one may read at any time (the hour and date being always attheeX- i treme left) When an order may be started, When it Will befinished and how long `it will take to pass it through the various stepsof the Working process. l

I claim s Y y l l. In a device of the typedescribed aplurality ofendless bands arranged thereon in pairs, and a plurality of superimposedpairs of sniall plates of' equal size and' dil'erent color hingedlyatt-ached to the said bands one of whichserves for dividing time Whilelthe others represent one means of work each or a group thereof.V l Y YY' 2. In a device of the type described a plurality of endlesslcliainsarranged thereon iii pairs, and a plurality of superimposedpairsV of small plates of equal size and different color hingedlyattached tothe said chains one of Whiclirserves for dividing time nWhilethe others represent vone means of Workeach or a group thereof. Y

3. A'device for determining the progress of Work comprising a box-likechart WithV slotted front and rearvvalls, the yslots being arrangedinliorizontal lines representing a means of Work and adapted to beilluminated, a plurality of rotatable shafts, means adapt-- ed to beguided horizontally over thev lines of slots and the said Vshafts inaccordance with the progress of the Work, a plurality of platessvvingingly depending from the said means and adapted to cooperate inthe motion there@k of, and a movable line systemrepresenting thedivision of time and' adapted to be displaced according to clock time,fthe' means representing time and means of Work'being independent fromone another'.

4C. The combination according to claim 3' and a plurality of smalldifferently colored plates arranged in pairs. to indicate the time"required by, and the progress made in, a given operation.

In testimony .whereof I have affixed my signature. f

' y GEORG REINICKE.

